St. Louis company wins suit over bowl-shaped chip

ST. LOUIS — A jury has sided with a St. Louis company in its battle with Frito-Lay over bowl-shaped tortilla chips.

Frito-Lay sued St. Louis-based Ralcorp Holdings in February 2012 in U.S. District Court in Dallas, claiming Ralcorp and its Medallion Foods subsidiary infringed on intellectual property rights by making Bowlz corn chips, a product similar to Frito-Lay’s Tostitos Scoops! chips.

Frito-Lay was seeking $4.5 million in damages.

But on Friday, the jury sided with Ralcorp and Medallion and gave Frito-Lay no money.

A spokseman for Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay says the company is disappointed in the ruling and considering whether to appeal.

Ralcorp predominantly makes food sold under store brand names. It is now part of ConAgra Foods Inc. The Omaha, Neb., company completed its $5 billion purchase in January.